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Posted by booger (Member # 3602) on October 25, 2011, 04:32 PM:
We have had some discussions about WWII stuff, and I have had the opportunity this week to meet a 97 year old survivor of the Bataan Death March.
Dr. Bill Brenner lives in Larned, Kansas, but was born near Bazine, Kansas, in Ness County. I am managing a branch bank in Bazine, and Doc's nephew works for me.
He is still pretty damn spry for his age, and his mind is still very sharp. One of our local community college professors met him a while back and decided to write a book about him. The book is called "I'm praying hard for you-Love letters to a Death Camp".
He not only survived the march, but survived 3 1/2 years in a Jap concentration camp in the Philippines.
The book is written from the perspective of what his experience was like, inter twined with actual letters from his wife...she continued to write him even though the letters were returned. The book is very good and pretty intense. In fact, I had to put it down a couple of times, as the words on the pages were putting pictures in my mind I couldn't quite comprehend.
I knew some of the Japanese soldiers were crazy, but the conditions those guys had to endure in those camps were unbelievable.
His brother ended up being a POW in Germany, although not as long.
They have a website called www.prayinghardforyou.com. It just pretty much promotes the book and is just a landing page.
He is giving a presentation on November 20th about his experience, and my wife and I are planning on going--he is a real piece of living history!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on October 25, 2011, 06:13 PM:
Wow! He has been through stuff I probably cannot comprehend, much less the ability of the X and Y generation to know what the man has been through. And, that's a shame. That sacrifice needs to be acknowledged by everybody.
gh....lb
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on October 26, 2011, 05:23 AM:
Booger
I cant imagine the hardships he has been through and the sacrifices he has made for the life we enjoy today. What an honor to meet a real life hero. The amazing thing is he probably sees himself as just an average guy.
Is there an address we can send a note of thaks to this man while he is still with us.
Posted by 4949shooter (Member # 3530) on October 26, 2011, 11:30 AM:
God bless him..
Posted by booger (Member # 3602) on October 26, 2011, 05:43 PM:
Paul,
I will get Doc's address tomorrow and try to get it posted tomorrow evening. I am sure he would appreciate your kind words.
Posted by JD (Member # 768) on October 26, 2011, 09:30 PM:
Great idea Paul, when you think about what that man has seen and overcome it kinda humbles a person a little bit. Maybe I shouldn't complain so much about lifes little inconveniences.
Posted by booger (Member # 3602) on October 27, 2011, 05:17 PM:
Guys:
Doc's address is as follows:
Dr. William R. Brenner
1006 State Street
Larned, KS 67550
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on October 27, 2011, 05:43 PM:
Thanks Booger
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